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East Topeka advocates ask committee to back quarter-cent sales tax for corridor revitalization
Summary
Community leaders urged the Topeka Policy and Finance Committee to forward a proposal for a 15-year quarter-cent sales tax to fund an East Topeka Corridor revitalization, including reuse of the Payless complex as a workforce and business hub and contributions to an affordable housing trust.
Community leaders urged the Topeka Policy and Finance Committee to advance a plan that would use a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to fund a multi-part East Topeka Corridor revitalization.
Curtis Pitts, who identified himself as a long-time community leader and former head of the city's disadvantaged minority council, told the committee the plan includes partnerships with Go Topeka and a request that some tax proceeds be directed to the city’s affordable housing trust fund. “It’s for the good of the entire city,” Pitts said, arguing the effort would support workforce development and keep residents and jobs in East Topeka.
A colleague introduced as Christianberry described the former Payless facility as a nearly turnkey opportunity — a large building with a gym and kitchen — that could be repurposed as a vocational and business incubator. Christianberry said the presenters had been involved in earlier quarter-cent sales tax campaigns and asked the committee to forward the proposal to the governing body so voters could decide.
Committee members pressed presenters on feasibility and condition of the building and whether the tax would fund only the Payless project. Pitts said the city and county had inspected the facility and confirmed that owners and technical experts could be brought forward to provide specifics. He also confirmed the presenters were proposing a 15-year sales-tax commitment, and said the quarter-cent “won’t be solely dedicated to the building” but could be used by other community development projects.
Councilman David Banks and other committee members voiced support for the concept, citing prior sales-tax measures that funded downtown and other projects. The committee did not take a formal vote on the funding measure at the meeting; presenters asked the committee to move the item to the governing body for public consideration.
Next steps: presenters requested the committee forward the plan to the governing body so it can be scheduled for council consideration and, if placed on a ballot, for voter decision.
